JPH0198017A - Printer controller - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To minimize the hardware quantity and to ensure the smooth print-out processing with no deterioration of the CPV performance by writing a fixed quantity of data to a buffer memory from a CPV via a data quantity detecting circuit in case the buffer memory has the idle capacity of a fixed quantity or more. CONSTITUTION:The data written into a buffer memory circuit 5 of a printer controller 3 from a CPV 1 via a common data bus 2 are delivered to a printer device 4 via a printer control circuit 6. A fact that the circuit 5 has the idle capacity of a fixed quantity or more is detected by a data quantity detecting circuit 7 and informed to the CPV 1. Thus the data of a fixed quantity is written to the circuit 5 from the CPV 1. As a result, the hardware quantity is minimized and the print-out processing is smoothly carried out with no deterioration of the CPV performance.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (Field of Industrial Application) The present invention relates to a printer control device connected to a central processing unit, and more particularly to a printer control device capable of executing other processes during print output processing.

(Prior Art) Conventionally, a printer control device has not been equipped with a buffer memory, and when a batch of data is sent to a printer, it reports the completion to a central processing unit, and the central processing unit transfers/transmits the operation. I was switching to print.

Therefore, if the transfer speed to the printer is low, the switching process will not degrade the performance of the central processing unit, but as the transfer speed of the printer increases, the switching process cannot be ignored. It has become.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) As described above, in the conventional printer control device, when outputting data with a printer device, the central processing unit switches from other processing to printer output processing for each batch of data. It has the disadvantage that it requires processing and reduces the performance of the central processing unit.

An object of the present invention is to temporarily store all data from a central processing unit in a buffer memory circuit and then print the data using a printer device.

The operation is controlled by the printer control circuit, and the amount of data in the buffer memory circuit can be detected by the data amount detection circuit.In case the buffer memory circuit is bumped by more than a certain amount, the central processing unit performs the following steps. It is an object of the present invention to provide a printer control device which eliminates the above disadvantages by writing data into a buffer memory circuit and eliminates the need to execute the switching process.

(Means for Solving All Problems) A printer control device according to the present invention includes a buffer memory circuit, a data amount detection circuit, and a printer control circuit.

The buffer memory circuit is used to temporarily store data sent from the central processing unit via the common data bus.

The data amount detection circuit detects the amount of free space when a bump of more than a certain amount occurs in the buffer memory circuit, reports it to the central processing unit, and writes a certain amount of data to all buffer memory circuits from the central processing unit. It is meant to give instructions.

The printer control circuit is for controlling the next data written in the buffer memory circuit by the central processing unit to be output to the printer device.

(Example) Next, one embodiment of the present invention will be explained with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a printer control device according to the present invention. In FIG. 1, 1 is a central processing unit, 2 is a common data bus, 3 is a printer control device, and 4 is a printer controller.
1 is a printer device, 5 is a buffer memory circuit, and 6 is a printer control circuit.

7 is a data amount detection circuit.

In FIG. 1, the printer control device 3 is the central processing device 1.
a buffer memory circuit 3 for storing data from the
Printer control circuit 6 for controlling the bling device 4t
, and a data amount detection circuit for detecting the amount of data stored in the buffer memory circuit 5.

During the output processing period to printer loading 4.

Data written into the buffer memory circuit 5 by the central processing unit 1 via the common data bus 2 is output to the printer device 4 via the printer control circuit 6. As a result of data being output to the printer device 4, the data amount detection circuit 7 detects that a certain amount or more of free space is generated in the buffer memory circuit 5, and reports this to the central processing unit 1.

Based on the above report, the central processing unit 1 recognizes that there is a certain amount of free space in the buffer memory circuit 5, and writes a certain amount of the next data into the buffer memory circuit 5.

(Effects of the Invention) As explained above, the present invention controls the operation by the printer control circuit so that the data from the central processing unit is temporarily stored in the entire buffer memory circuit and then is printed by the printer device. The amount of data in the buffer memory circuit can be detected by a data amount detection circuit, and when a certain amount or more of free space occurs in the buffer memory circuit, the central processing unit writes the next data to the buffer memory circuit. This has the effect that print output processing can be performed smoothly without reducing the overall performance of the central processing unit by minimizing the amount of hardware.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a printer control device according to the present invention. 1...Central processing unit 2...Common data bus 3.
...Printer control device 4...Printer device 5...
・Buffer memory circuit 6...Printer control circuit 7...Data amount detection circuit

Claims (1)

[Claims] a buffer memory circuit for temporarily storing data sent from a central processing unit via a common data bus; a data amount detection circuit for reporting to a central processing unit and instructing the central processing unit to write the certain amount of data to the buffer memory circuit; 1. A printer control device comprising a printer and a control circuit for controlling the output of data to a printer device.